Books Read and Movies Watched in April 2017

Books read in April 2017

• Unbreak My Heart by Lorelei James (NOTE: This is part of the Rough Riders Legacy series. The order of which can be found here.)
• The Big Break by Cara Lockwood (NOTE: This mentions the characters in Her Hawaiian Homecoming, but it's not necessary to read that before this one.)
• Wrapped and Strapped by Lorelei James (NOTE: This is part of the Rough Riders Legacy series. The order of which can be found here.)
• Hang Tough by Lorelei James (NOTE: This is part of the Rough Riders Legacy series. The order of which can be found here.)
• The Thing About Love by Julie James (NOTE: This is part of her FBI/Attorney series, but they're not really connected.)
• Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks (NOTE: This is the first book in her Montgomery/Armstrong series. The order of which can be found here.)
• Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks (NOTE: This is the first book in her Montgomery/Armstrong series. The order of which can be found here.)

It was a good reading month. It was all romance so pretty fast-reading books. Most were old and I felt like catching up on the series. I learned I'm not too into New Adult fiction. I really liked Maya Banks Highlander series, but then I found out it stalled after two books, but there is rumor a third may eventually be released. Fingers crossed!

Movies watched in April 2017

• Central Intelligence
• How to be Single
• Suicide Squad

I really enjoyed Central Intelligence. The others were a fine waste of time. I figured I'd take advantage of the movie channels and made my way through their offerings.

Books Read in June 2015

1. Landline by Rainbow Rowell
2. Suddenly One Summer by Julie James (NOTE: Julie James has many recurring characters, but she writes so you can pick up her books at any point. There is a cameo by a character from a previous book, but this one stands alone more than others.)
3. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
4. Looking for Alaska by John Green

I really liked Landline. It was a little woowoo with the magic landline, but I liked the story about marriage. It would be a good discussion book on readers' views on the main character or if readers agreed with the ending. I really like Rainbow Rowell's books a lot. I just wish there were more of them. It was a pretty great month for reading - the quantity may have been small, but the books were good. I think I liked the other Liane Moriarty book better, but this was good.

Books Read in May 2014

1. Hope Ignites by Jaci Burton  (NOTE: This is part of her Hope series.  The order of which can be found here.)
2. Edge of the Enforcer by Cherise Sinclair  (NOTE: This is part of her Doms of Dark Haven and Mountain Masters series.  The order of which can be found here.)
3. It Happened One Wedding by Julie James (NOTE: This is part of the FBI/U.S. Attorney series. The related books can be found here.)
4. Catching Cameron by Julie Brannagh (NOTE: This is part of the Love and Football series. The order in which to read the books can be found here in the Novels tab.)

Decent month full of quick reads.  I'm enjoying my romance run.  All of the books were solid with great stories and characters.  June is not looking as promising so far though.

Weekend Update - Week of Friends

While Little Miss was in Florida, I was very busy!  On Monday, I had a friend in from out of town and met her for dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill.  It was a lot of fun and the food was delicious (seriously, chocolate chip bread pudding - must have it!).  On Tuesday, another friend was in town, and I met her at Chef Geoff's downtown.  We just did burgers and dessert.  I mean, who can turn down doughnuts on the dessert menu?  

Then, on Wednesday, I met a bunch of girlfriends in Atlanta.  We had such a great time.  On Wednesday, we went to the RWA literacy signing.  I met Jill Shalvis, Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Julie James - along with Mary Jo Putney, Susan Mallery and Farrah Rochon - and saw hundreds of others.

Thursday, we hiked up Stone Mountain, had lunch and then had cocktails in the Botanical Gardens.  On Friday, some of us went to the aquarium and some toured CNN.  Then, we went to Buckhead to have a really amazing dinner before we all said goodbye to head home throughout the day on Saturday.

My flight was delayed hours coming home on Saturday, but Husband was there to pick me up when I did finally land.  We scooped up Little Miss from my parents and then went to a friends' house.  Husband's friend and his wife and son were in town.  At the end, we were all exhausted.  We had to make a quick stop at the store on the way home because Little Miss was hungry at almost midnight.  I went to bed as soon as we got home while Little Miss ate and Husband took a shower.  Little Miss fell asleep at the kitchen table.  We all slept half the day away the next day.

When we got our act together the next day, we caught the end of the British Open and Little Miss wanted to play golf so we took her to the driving range.  Her clubs are still a little bit, and we were all still a little sleepy, but it was a successful trip.

With a little discipline and confidence, Little Miss will improve.  She still enjoys it at least. 

Books Read in April 2013

1. Love Irresistibly by Julie James  (NOTE:  This is part of the FBI/US Attorney series.  The order in which to read can be found here.)


2. Rush by Maya Banks  (NOTE:  This is part of the Breathless series.  The order of which can be found here.)


3. Be Mine by Jennifer Crusie, Victoria Dahl, and Shannon Stacey.  (NOTE:  Some of these short stories are part of a series, but they can totally stand alone.  It was a decent anthology for what it's worth.)


4. A bad Idea I'm About to Do by Chris Gethard

Decent month of reading.  They were all digital except Rush which I won.  At least none of the books were a waste of time and fairly quick reads. 

Books Read in April 2012

1. The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings
2. The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley (NOTE: This is book 4 in the Highland Pleasures series. You can find the order here.)
3. Happy Endings by Jane Lynch
4. About That Night by Julie James (NOTE: This is part of the FBI/US Attorney series. The order can be found here.)
5. Time Out by Jill Shalvis
6. No Longer a Gentleman by Mary Jo Putney (NOTE: This is part of the The Lost Lords series. The order can be found here.)

I kept my reading momentum from last month and read a lot in the early part of the month, and a mixture of books. The Descendants was good. I liked it more than the movie though I missed George Clooney and the beautiful scenery. I went old school and read the paperback. The romance novels were all ebooks this month, all by my favorite authors so they were all enjoyable. Happy Accidents was from the library, and I really liked it. Jane Lynch has a great voice and I liked how she chose to tell her story. I'm currently reading my book club book which I doubt I'll finish before the end of the month. Then, I'm excited for Tuesday's Nora Roberts's release. I'm really enjoying her latest series about the Inn Boonesboro. More about that next month!

Books Read in March 2011

1. A Lot Like Love by Julie James
2. Midnight Assignment by Victoria Dahl

I did very little reading this weekend especially when you count the second on my list is a short story that I've been reading off-and-on since last year. Still, both were very entertaining. I think this was Julie James's best book yet. I definitely hope to read more this month. I have a wonderful pile of books to read!

Books Read in March 2010

1. Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb (NOTE: This book is part of the In Death series. The order can be found here.)
2. Something About You by Julie James
3. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
4. Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
5. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

March wasn't as productive as February, but I read more books with substance. I left the romance genre for the better part of the month. That said, Fantasy in Death was, as always, a solid Eve and Roarke book. Something About You was Julie James's best book in my opinion. I really liked Shutter Island and hope to check out more of Dennis Lehane. I thought Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and Olive Kitteridge were both good books but neither stayed with me for long. I know people loved them, and they were both bestsellers. The latter won a Pulitzer Prize. However, I only liked them. April is already a rough reading month, but it's only just begun so we'll see how productive it is. You never know.

Do you live near or in Chicago?

If you do, I'm very jealous. Mark your calendars for March 13. Julie James, Beth Kery, Shiloh Walker, and Joss Ware (aka Colleen Gleason) are signing their latest books together.

Barnes & Noble
Webster Place
1441 West Webster Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
773-871-3610
March 13th, 3:00-5:00 pm

If you can't go, you can visit here to win a signed copy of the book of your choice from EACH of the participating authors, and a $40 gift card to Barnes & Noble (also can be used at BN.com).

I am reading Something About You now and thoroughly enjoying it. It's so much fun. Attend the event if you can and let me know how it went so I can live vicariously through you. If you must, enter the contest, but then you're my competition.

Contest

Julie James has a new book being released in March. It is called Something About You. Her books are absolutely adorable, straight up romance. They've very sweet, clever, witty and fun. In honor of her new book, Julie James is having a contest on her blog. First place is $100 Amazon, Borders or Barnes & Noble. Second and third place winners receive an autographed copy of her book. Check it out and good luck (though not too good of luck as I want to win)!

Books Read in September 2009

1. Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James
2. Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl (NOTE: This is Book 1 in a series.)
3. Start Me Up by Victoria Dahl (NOTE: This is Book 2 in a series.)
4. To Tempt a Scotsman by Victoria Dahl (NOTE: This is Book 1 in a series.)
5. A Rake’s Guide to Pleasure by Victoria Dahl (NOTE: This is Book 2 in a series.)
6. One Week as Lovers by Victoria Dahl (NOTE: This is Book 3 in a series.)
7. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

All the books I read in September were during the first week while I was on vacation. That said, they were all fun books. I should admit that I only read 1/4 (if that) of The House at Riverton. It was for bookclub and, though I started it early and had grand plans to read it, it was a slow-moving book for me. Victoria Dahl is a new author for me. She came recommended so I picked up some books with some money to Borders I had accumulated. Then, I discovered that I purchased two books that were the latest books in two separate series so I had buy the backlist. I'm glad I did. Who knows what's in store for me this month? I don't anticipate a lot of reading as it's a busy month for me, but you never know.

Books Read in August 2009

1. Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James
2. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
3. Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon (NOTE: This is part of the Dark Hunter series.)
4. Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon (NOTE: This is part of the Dark Hunter series.)
5. Fear the Darkness by Sherrilyn Kenyon (NOTE: This is a super short ebook part of the Dark Hunter series.)
6. The Dream-Hunter by Sherrilyn Kenyon (NOTE: This is part of the Dark Hunter series though also starts the Dream Hunter series.)

I read a bit this month. I wanted to read more, but I decided to read a book for bookclub. I thought I could squeeze it into the last week of August, but I don't think it'll happen. I borrow the Sherrilyn Kenyon books so I tend to read them all in groups like I did this month. Julie James is a new-to-me author. I enjoyed Practice Makes Perfect and plan on reading her first book during vacation so you'll see that book when I post my September reads. I hope I can keep up my reading momentum into September!